If your child has just been referred to a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP) in Cibolo, chances are you're feeling alarmed—and you should be. A DAEP assignment is a serious disruption. It pulls students out of their everyday learning environment, disconnects them from their peers, and can leave a lasting mark on their academic history.
Judson ISD, SCUC ISD, and Marion ISD—each of which serves students living in the Cibolo area—enforce strict codes of conduct. Yet, how those rules are applied can vary drastically depending on the school or even the administrator involved. It's not uncommon for students to be sent to DAEP based on misinterpretations, rushed investigations, or incomplete disciplinary procedures.
No matter which Cibolo-area district your student attends, time is a critical factor. Each district operates under Texas law, but the local DAEP process can differ in how referrals are handled and challenged. Acting quickly gives families a much stronger chance of stopping an unfair or excessive placement before it takes root.
The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team helps parents across the greater Cibolo region. From our San Antonio office, the team supports families through each step of the DAEP process. Call 888-535-3686 or connect with us online to begin defending your child's future. The team supports families through each step of the DAEP process.
What DAEP Means for Students in Cibolo
When a student is moved into a DAEP, they're pulled from their normal campus and sent to a separate location for disciplinary reasons. Districts often frame these programs as a place for students to reset and improve. But for many families, the reality feels far more punishing than productive. The environment is often rigid, the structure unfamiliar, and the entire experience isolating.
Within the Cibolo area, DAEP placements vary by district. In Judson ISD, students are sent to the Judson Achievement Center at 9695 Schaefer Road in Converse. SCUC ISD DAEP typically assigns students to their campus at 301 Main Street in Schertz. Marion ISD, though smaller, also maintains an alternative education program housed at 211 W Otto Street in Marion. Where a student ends up depends on zoning, grade level, and the district's internal decision process.
Students enrolled in elementary, middle, and high schools throughout Cibolo—whether in Judson ISD, SCUC ISD, or Marion ISD—can be referred to these DAEPs if they're found in violation of the district's code of conduct. That referral can happen fast, and not all families get a full explanation before their child is reassigned.
It's important to understand that DAEP doesn't mirror a regular school experience. These programs typically involve:
- Highly restricted movement — students follow strict protocols when transitioning between rooms or activities.
- Different academic priorities — instruction may focus more on discipline than meaningful academic progress.
- Mixed-age groupings — younger students may be placed alongside older peers, which can create tension or discomfort.
- Zero extracurricular involvement — sports, clubs, and other school activities are off-limits until the placement ends.
These changes don't just affect school performance. For many families, DAEP placement feels like a sudden loss of structure, familiarity, and support. Students removed from their campus community often carry the emotional weight of that experience well beyond their return.
How DAEP Placement Disrupts Your Child's Education in Cibolo
When your child is sent to a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program in Cibolo, the impact goes far beyond just changing campuses. These placements shake up everything—routines, relationships, academic progress—and the effects can stick long after they return to their regular school.
In SCUC ISD, Judson ISD, and Marion ISD, students referred to DAEP often experience:
- Academic setbacks: The curriculum inside a DAEP setting isn't always on pace with what's being taught at the student's home campus. They may fall behind in key subjects, making it harder to keep up with their peers after they return.
- Isolation from peers and teachers: Being removed from familiar faces and daily structure can take a toll. Many students feel cut off socially and emotionally while in placement, and that sense of disconnection doesn't disappear overnight.
- A lasting reputation: Once labeled as a “discipline case,” students can find it difficult to shake that perception. Even after returning to their school, they may be treated differently or watched more closely by staff.
- Blocked opportunities: DAEP often means no access to sports, school clubs, or leadership programs. For some students, that's more than just a missed semester—it's a lost chance to build experience and confidence.
- Closer scrutiny after return: After DAEP, students usually face more monitoring than before. Small mistakes that once got a warning might now lead to immediate disciplinary action.
If your child receives special education services under an IEP or 504 Plan, the risks go even deeper. Accommodations may not carry over into the DAEP, leaving students without critical support they're legally entitled to.
What's meant to be temporary can create long-term consequences. That's why challenging the placement early matters so much.
Schools Affected by DAEP Placement in the Cibolo Area
While SCUC ISD, Judson ISD, and Marion ISD each serve different parts of the Cibolo community, parents should know which campuses can refer students to a DAEP setting based on where they're zoned and enrolled.
Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD
Admin Office: 1060 Elbel Road, Schertz, TX 78154
DAEP Campus: SCUC ISD DAEP, 301 Main Street, Schertz, TX 78154
SCUC outlines its discipline policies in detail in the Student Code of Conduct, which guides how DAEP referrals are handled across campuses.
Students may be referred from the following SCUC campuses:
- Samuel Clemens High School
- Byron P. Steele II High School
- J. Frank Dobie Junior High School
- Ray D. Corbett Junior High School
- Barbara C. Jordan Intermediate School
- Laura Ingalls Wilder Intermediate School
- Elaine S. Schlather Intermediate School
- Cibolo Valley Elementary School
- Green Valley Elementary School
- Norma J. Paschal Elementary School
- John A. Sippel Elementary School
- Wiederstein Elementary School
- Rose Garden Elementary School
- Schertz Elementary School
- Watts Elementary School
Judson Independent School District
Admin Office: 8012 Shin Oak Drive, Live Oak, TX 78233
DAEP Campus: Judson Achievement Center, 9695 Schaefer Road, Converse, TX 78109
Judson ISD's Student Code of Conduct explains what kinds of violations may lead to DAEP and how disciplinary decisions are made.
Students may be referred from the following Judson ISD campuses:
- Judson High School
- Karen Wagner High School
- Veterans Memorial High School
- Judson Early College Academy
- Judson Learning Academy
- Judson CARE Academy
- Judson Middle School
- Kitty Hawk Middle School
- Kirby Middle School
- Metzger Middle School
- Woodlake Hills Middle School
- JSTEM Academy
- Candlewood Elementary School
- Converse Elementary School
- Copperfield Elementary School
- Coronado Village Elementary School
- Crestview Elementary School
- Elolf STEAM Academy
- Escondido Elementary School
- Franz Leadership Academy
- Hartman Elementary School
- Hopkins Elementary School
- Masters Elementary School
- Miller's Point Elementary School
- Olympia Elementary School
- Park Village Blended Learning Academy
- Paschall Elementary School
- Ricardo Salinas Elementary School
- Rolling Meadows Elementary School
- Spring Meadows Elementary School
- Woodlake Elementary School
- Wortham Oaks Elementary School
Marion Independent School District
Admin Office: 500 Bulldog Lane, Marion, TX 78124
DAEP Campus: Marion Alternative Center, 211 W Otto Street, Marion, TX 78124
Details about how Marion ISD approaches discipline and DAEP placement are available in their Student Code of Conduct.
Students may be referred from:
- Marion High School
- Marion Middle School
- Norma Krueger Elementary School – Primary Campus
- Norma Krueger Elementary School – Karrer Campus
Even elementary students can be assigned to a DAEP campus under certain violations, though most referrals come from junior high or high school campuses.
Parents in Cibolo should be aware of how zoning and district policy affect which DAEP facility their child could be assigned to. Knowing the process—and acting fast—can be the key to protecting your child's future.
Common Reasons for DAEP Placement in Cibolo
Most families assume a DAEP referral only happens after something extreme, like violence or serious threats. However, in SCUC ISD, Judson ISD, and Marion ISD, students are often placed in alternative programs for reasons that feel minor, misunderstood, or improperly escalated.
Here are some of the most frequent reasons students in the Cibolo area end up in DAEP:
- Fighting or Physical Altercations: Whether the conflict is mutual or one-sided, physical confrontations—regardless of who started it—often lead to immediate removal. Even self-defense can trigger DAEP if it violates district policies. Many times, the full story isn't fully investigated before action is taken.
- Possession of Prohibited Items: E-cigarettes, vape pens, alcohol, tobacco, or even medication without proper documentation can all result in DAEP placement. In many cases, the item isn't used—just being found with it is enough, especially if it's not the first time.
- Persistent Misconduct: Students who repeatedly receive referrals for skipping class, ignoring teacher instructions, or causing disruptions may be sent to DAEP based on a pattern of behavior, even when no single incident is serious by itself.
- Cheating and Academic Dishonesty: Copying work, using unapproved resources, or outright refusing to complete assignments can lead to DAEP when it's viewed as ongoing defiance. Often, these placements come after schools say lesser consequences haven't worked.
- Zero-Tolerance Violations: Bringing something that resembles a weapon—even a toy knife or multitool—can result in immediate disciplinary placement. Intent and age aren't always considered, and students may not fully understand the consequences of what they bring to school.
- Repeated Minor Infractions: Students who accumulate write-ups for things like dress code violations, talking back, or phone use in class may find themselves in DAEP after multiple warnings. The pattern, not the individual behaviors, becomes the justification.
The reality is, many DAEP placements come down to administrator discretion. One school leader might opt for detention or suspension, while another pushes straight for an alternative setting. That inconsistency makes it dangerous for families to accept a referral without challenging it.
Students with IEPs or 504 Plans face additional risks. When staff misinterpret behavior related to a disability, they may view it as intentional defiance instead of something tied to the student's condition—and that can lead to illegal referrals.
Challenging a DAEP assignment doesn't mean excusing what happened. It means making sure the school followed policy, applied discipline fairly, and took your child's situation into account before removing them from their classroom.
The DAEP Placement Process in Cibolo
When a student in the Cibolo area is being considered for placement in a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program, the decision must follow the rules set out in Chapter 37 of the Texas Education Code. Still, how each local district—SCUC ISD, Judson ISD, or Marion ISD—handles those steps can vary. Parents often find themselves unsure of what's next or what rights they're entitled to as the process moves forward.
Here's what the typical DAEP referral process looks like in Cibolo-area schools:
- Initial Incident and Review: A behavioral violation is documented and passed up to school administrators. These reports are often vague or leave out key details, which can affect how the event is interpreted during review.
- Parent Notification: Once a decision is made to consider DAEP, the family is notified. That notice might come by phone, email, or formal letter, but it doesn't always explain the appeal process or outline options for challenging the decision.
- Limited Time to Appeal: Each district offers a short window to fight the placement, often just a few school days. If families don't respond quickly, they may lose their opportunity to contest the referral before it takes effect.
- DAEP Assignment Begins: If no appeal is submitted—or if the appeal fails—the student is placed in the assigned alternative program. That may be SCUC ISD DAEP in Schertz, the Judson Achievement Center in Converse, or Marion's Alternative Center in Marion. The length of stay can range from a few weeks to multiple grading periods.
- Reentry and Monitoring: After finishing the DAEP term, students return to their home campus but are usually under close observation. Without support, this increased scrutiny can lead to another round of discipline for minor issues that might've been overlooked before.
Even after the placement starts, families can still push for adjustments. In some cases, a term reduction or alternative intervention may be possible, especially if a legal advocate gets involved.
And for students who receive special education services through an IEP or 504 Plan, additional legal protections apply. If the school skips any required steps or fails to hold proper meetings, that alone may be grounds to reverse the DAEP placement entirely.
In Cibolo, understanding how this process works gives families the ability to step in early and stop a bad decision before it spirals.
How the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team Helps Families in Cibolo
Getting a DAEP referral can feel overwhelming, but parents in Cibolo don't have to face it alone. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team understands how much these placements can affect a child's academic path, emotional stability, and long-term future.
We're not a general practice firm dabbling in education law. Our team focuses entirely on school discipline, helping families navigate complex codes of conduct, procedural traps, and the fallout that comes with DAEP assignments.
Here's how we support families throughout SCUC ISD, Judson ISD, and Marion ISD:
- Identifying Mistakes in Procedure: We examine whether the district followed all required steps when issuing a DAEP referral. If they skipped deadlines, missed notices, or bypassed parent involvement, we use that to challenge the decision.
- Uncovering Gaps in the Story: Referral documents are often incomplete or slanted. We work with families to present the full context, clarify misunderstandings, and ensure the student's perspective is part of the official record.
- Filing Appeals and Negotiating Outcomes: The firm can assist with preparing appeal documents and communicating with district personnel on behalf of the family, often working toward reduced placements, alternate interventions, or on-campus solutions that keep the student out of DAEP entirely.
- Protecting Special Education Rights: Students with IEPs or 504 Plans have legal safeguards that can't be ignored during disciplinary action. We hold districts accountable when they overlook those protections.
- Easing the Transition Back: If a student is already serving a DAEP term, we help plan for reintegration. That includes coordination with campus staff, academic follow-up, and ensuring the student isn't unfairly targeted after returning.
A DAEP placement isn't just about one mistake—it's about whether the school took the right steps, respected your child's rights, and handled the process fairly. When they don't, you have every reason to fight back.
If your child is facing DAEP placement from any Cibolo-area campus, early action makes all the difference. Call the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team at 888-535-3686 or contact us online. From our San Antonio office, the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team supports families across Cibolo and nearby districts.
